On their journey to Daqi, Huangfu Rong and Liang Qingqing rode in the largest and most stable carriage, which was fully equipped with food, drink, and toilet facilities. In addition, there were seven or eight palace servants accompanying them. Before they approached the colder regions, both of them were in high spirits.
Liang Qingqing comes from the modern era and is bold and open in her behavior. She often dragged Huangfu Rong to be intimate on the road. On one occasion, she even kissed Huangfu Rong in front of several generals outside the carriage, separated only by a curtain.
For the past month, Liang Qingqing had not suffered any hardship or suffering. On the contrary, she had been well taken care of, and her food and drink were no different from those in the palace. In addition, she could enjoy the scenery along the way when she had nothing to do, and stop to have the palace servants buy some novel and interesting things in the counties along the way. Therefore, compared with the soldiers who were withered and increasingly weak and haggard, Liang Qingqing had a rosy complexion and her eyes were full of spring, and she was even more radiant than in the palace.
After all, Huangfu Rong was busy handling state affairs in the palace, so she could only stay in the deep palace most of the time.
Now the two are spending every day and night together on their journey, traveling and enjoying the scenery at their leisure.
For Liang Qingqing, this kind of life was much more comfortable than living in the palace.
However, as she became radiant, Huangfu Rong, who had always been healthy and had survived a poisoned arrow attack, suddenly fell ill halfway through the journey.
High fever, vomiting, chills, convulsions—similar symptoms to those of the soldiers, but much more severe.
The two imperial physicians who accompanied him stayed by his side day and night, trying every method and trick, but the final effect was minimal.
"This epidemic came on fiercely, and not only the military camps, but also many people in the city fell ill."
This is not unusual; every spring and autumn, various epidemics, large and small, occur one after another. As long as they are not fatal, they are considered minor illnesses.
Originally, they could have recovered simply by resting, but because Huangfu Rong forced them to go on the expedition, some of the infected soldiers' conditions worsened. More than a dozen died along the way, and more than a hundred were too sick to walk and could only lie on carts and be dragged along.
At first, Huangfu Rong did not take this minor epidemic seriously. After all, he had been healthy since he was a teenager, and he had remained unharmed even during the years when the palace was infected with the epidemic.
But now that he has fallen ill, the once spirited man has lost all his energy and become listless, lying on his bed and unwilling to even lift his arm.
"How could this be? His Majesty is protected by the aura of a true dragon, how could he fall ill? Do you quack doctors even have any real skills?"
It is often said that the low level of medical care in ancient times was due to the abundance of quack doctors!
Liang Qingqing didn't believe in these tricks of observation, listening, questioning and palpation. No matter what the illness was, it was all based on his words and had no scientific basis whatsoever!
In modern times, this kind of disease would be cured with just two antibiotics! Why all this trouble!
"Right... antibiotics, homemade antibiotics!"
She suddenly remembered something, and then joy burst forth in her eyes.
She possesses modern knowledge; how could she possibly use the thinking of the ancients to solve problems at a time like this!
It just so happens that she enjoys watching short videos, some of which contain methods for making traditional antibiotics.
She didn't remember the specific steps, but she could recall the general content.
The thought that if she succeeded, she would become the first person in history to invent antibiotics! Not only would Huangfu Rong be remembered for eternity, but Liang Qingqing would too!
"Huangfu! Don't worry, I will definitely cure you!"
After she finished speaking, she gave instructions to the palace servants.
"Go to the pharmacy and get some medicine as I told you to, and while you're at it, buy me some tangerines."
She remembered clearly that penicillin was extracted from moldy citrus fruits. Although the process was a bit complicated, it was still better than watching Huangfu get sick and suffer.
The news of His Majesty's illness somehow got out, and soon a sense of pessimism and panic spread throughout the entire army.
In their eyes, His Majesty was nothing short of a god, invincible and unbreakable.
But now even he's fallen ill, so what chance do the rest of them have?
Huangfu Rong himself couldn't understand it; he had never encountered a situation where he was discouraged without a fight.
Under Liang Qingqing's influence, he was originally an atheist who believed that things were possible through human effort, but recent events have made him begin to doubt everything he had previously believed in.
how so?
Yes, the attendants were thinking the same thing. With the real goddesses accompanying them to protect them, they could at least avoid being defeated at the very beginning, let alone return in triumph.
However, no one doubted the goddess's abilities at this time. The old eunuch who had been by Huangfu Rong's side reported to him privately.
"When I was serving the late emperor, I overheard something. Although I don't know if it's true or not, I have to tell you now."
Before his death, the old imperial advisor had a secret conversation with the late emperor, saying that the blood of the goddess carried great fortune. Whoever's clothes it dripped on would be blessed with good luck and a peaceful life. Conversely, the goddess's body would become weak and her fortune would be exhausted.
Now that things have come to this, Your Majesty might as well try this method. Using it only once shouldn't cause any harm to Miss Liang's body.
"You idiot! You actually believe this nonsense!"
That old imperial advisor even said he had no bearing to be a ruler! But in the end, he still managed to secure the throne!
The old eunuch dared not speak recklessly, but he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
If this Miss Liang is the true goddess, how come His Majesty's fortunes have been declining day by day ever since she became Empress!
He was shrewd enough not to think too deeply about it and could only step aside.
Although Huangfu Rong spoke dismissively, some of his words, once heard, were like a knife cutting into flesh, leaving a mark that would never disappear.
About ten days later, the army's march became extremely slow due to Huangfu Rong's poor health.
This illness came on suddenly, like a flood bursting its banks, as if it were making up for all the illnesses he had never had in the first half of his life.
First, I caught a cold, then my old injury flared up, and even my headaches, which hadn't recurred for a long time, started all over again.
In just over ten days, Huangfu Rong, who was as strong as an ox when he set off, was now emaciated and ashen-faced, his former glory completely gone.
Whenever Huangfu Rong was tormented by headaches and couldn't sleep at night, and no matter how Liang Qingqing used her massage techniques, it didn't work, the old eunuch's words would unconsciously echo in his mind.
If the blood of a goddess drips onto someone's clothes, it will bring them boundless good fortune.
One night, he suddenly remembered something: every time he went to war, Jin Shu would cut off a corner of his battle robe with a knife and say with a smile that she would keep it as a souvenir.
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